SUPER CHERRIES TURN ON THE STYLE (From Bournemouth Echo)

SUPER CHERRIES TURN ON THE STYLE

4:58pm Saturday 2nd May 2009 in

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AN experimental Cherries side produced a quite majestic performance to end their eventful campaign on a huge high this afternoon at Morecambe.

First-half goals from Joel Ward, Liam Feeney and Brett Pitman all but ended the League Two match as a contest, before Pitman grabbed his second with Cherries turning on the style after the break to run out 4-0 winners.

Despite opting to make changes and alter the team formation, boss Eddie Howe’s tactical decisions were soon shown to be fully justified as his side produced a terrific display.

And if this is to be treated as a glimpse into what the future could hold under Howe, Cherries fans will be hoping he is snapped up on a long-term deal as soon as possible.

Freed from the shackles of their gruelling survival battle for the first time, the Dean Court outfit excelled.

With League Two safety already secured thanks to last weekend’s heroics against Grimsby Town, Howe decided to shuffle his pack, with one eye no doubt on planning for next season.

Youth team graduates Joe Partington and Josh McQuoid were handed rare starts, while Pompey loanee Ward returned from injury in central defence, with Ryan Garry dropping to the bench.

Veteran targetman Steve Fletcher was given a well-earned rest as Jeff Goulding led the line and George Webb, a second-year apprentice from Joe Roach’s under-18s team, was named among the substitutes.

With Cherries looking to quickly adapt to their much-changed line-up and formation in the Christie Park sunshine, they almost got off to the worst possible start.

Michael Twiss delivered a dangerous cross from the left and it took a fine last-gasp challenge from Rhoys Wiggins to deny captain James Bentley what looked certain to be a tap-in.

But the men from Dorset soon settled and, when an early goal did come in the seventh minute, it was Howe’s young Cherries who found themselves in front.

Wiggins, the hero at the other end just moments earlier, whipped in a curling corner and the returning Ward rose highest to head past stranded keeper Barry Roche from six yards.

Morecambe responded and could have levelled when Wayne Curtis chipped over before the same player turned provider, releasing Diarmuid O’Carroll, only for Shwan Jalal to produce an excellent save.

O’Carroll, on 26 minutes, was now beginning to cause a few problems and he dropped deep to receive the ball before unleashing a swerving shot which Jalal again did well to keep out.

With Jalal showcasing his skills in Cherries’ goal, it was soon the turn of Shrimps stopper Roche to do the same as he produced a fine double save from Pitman, then Goulding, who should have done better from 10 yards.

Despite the goalkeepers looking in good form, had both of them been in the Morecambe goal they would probably have struggled to keep out Cherries’ second strike, which came on 36 minutes.

A neat build-up involving Partington found Feeney in space just inside the hosts’ penalty area, and the former Salisbury star didn’t need asking twice as he composed himself then smashed a brilliant right-footed shot across Roche and into the far corner.

Having doubled their advantage, Cherries’ confidence grew even greater and they began to demonstrate their quality.

The rewards for which continued to come when Pitman, whose influence increased as the half wore on, made it 3-0.

With two minutes to go before the interval, Cherries’ top scorer turned inside his man and fired a rocket of a left-foot strike which flew past a helpless Roche.

Cherries began the second half as they ended the first – forcing the issue.

A well-struck Pitman free-kick was blocked by the defensive wall before McQuoid’s 25-yard volley failed to dip enough to test Roche.

The visiting supporters sang ‘it’s just like watching Brazil’ and, while that might have been stretching it, they had good reason to be in fine voice.

Morecambe continued to show little going forward and Cherries came close to further extending their advantage with 59 minutes on the clock as Goulding’s curler drifted narrowly wide, before Roche denied Pitman.

Then Jalal saved well from Curtis and, within seconds, Cherries counter-attacked and added to their tally with another fine goal.

The excellent Wiggins raced forward from left-back on the overlap and sent over a searching cross which found Pitman, who made no mistake running on to the ball eight yards out.

And Cherries comfortably played out the remainder of the match to secure a resounding victory.

Morecambe: (4-4-2) Roche; Parrish, Artell, Bentley, Adams; Twiss (Taylor, 66), McLachlan (McStay, 79), Drummond, Duffy; Curtis, O’Carroll (Blinkhorn, 79). Unused subs: Davies, Howard.

Cherries: (4-2-1-3) Jalal; Bradbury, Pearce, Ward, Wiggins; Hollands, Partington; Pitman (Webb, 85); Feeney, Goulding (Fletcher, 82), McQuoid (Molesley, 74). Unused subs: Garry, Robinson.

Referee: Jon Moss (West Yorkshire)

Attendance: 2,601 (including 474 away supporters)